EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

There is no UKIP bench in the House of Lords.

I was wondering about that, more that I didn't think there would be so many as to be called a bench. Who makes UKIP peers? Or is it that they were awarded for other things and it's just coincidence.

On 24 June 1995, UKIP gained its first member of the House of Lords, The Lord Grantley, who had joined the party in 1993 from the Conservatives and had recently succeeded to his father's titles. However, with the coming House of Lords Act 1999, he decided not to stand for election as a continuing member, and so left the House in November 1999.[citation needed] Earlier in 1999, UKIP had gained a second peer in the House of Lords, The Earl of Bradford, but he, too, left the House in November 1999 because of the House of Lords Act.[citation needed] The Lord Pearson of Rannoch and The Lord Willoughby de Broke both defected to UKIP in 2007,[175] giving the party its first representation in the House of Lords since the departure of Lord Grantley and Lord Bradford.[176] The Lord Pearson of Rannoch went on to serve as party leader from November 2009 to September 2010. On 18 September 2012, The Lord Stevens of Ludgate joined UKIP, having sat as an Independent Conservative since his expulsion from the Conservatives in 2004

They are peers who have defected from the tories.

Angela Merkel: Brexit is irreversible and it is 'wishful thinking' to hope for U-turn.

:(

Only once Article 50 is triggered. Before then we can clutch as many straws as we want that we will get this ship turned about.

Ah ok tx :-)

Thanks WillMelling and @Bad_Science interesting for lazy people like me. Also, the Lords full titles are very silly.

Oft-repeated falsehood about share ownership. According to the Office of National Statistics, 'the proportion of shares held by pension funds grew from 6% in 1963 to a high of 32% in 1992. Since this time, pension funds' holdings have fallen, reaching 3% in 2014. This is the lowest recorded percentage of holdings by pension funds.'

Isn't the 32% the percentage of the UK pension fund assets invested in shares whilst the tiny% is the proportion of the UK stock market held by those funds. But yes your point stands that pension funds are not the big investors the news often makes them out to be.

From here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/investmentspensionsandtrusts/bulletins/ownershipofukquotedshares/2015-09-02#holdings-of-uk-quoted-shares-by-sector-of-beneficial-owner

Interesting development this morning, David Pannick QC, the leading expert on constitutional law, says that invoking Article 50 to notify the EU that the UK wishes to leave will require an Act of Parliament.

Hmmm. Off to look that one up...

A good person to follow on this: https://mobile.twitter.com/DavidAllenGreen

He's written an article in The Times, but it's behind the paywall.

Key to his argument:

https://mobile.twitter.com/johnhalton/status/748403831847981056/photo/1

So aside from all other promises brexit made they messed this up too by suggesting a "just do it?"

I'm convinced. The reason why I always assumed an act of Parliament wasn't necessary was because article 50 was simply a treaty negotiation. The outcome is what would be voted on. However, the reality is there is a guaranteed outcome, thus, not simple treaty negotiation, and thus an act of Parliament necessary.

Look what happens when we have experts! Reasoned reflection.

There was no need to pannick after all.

I'll get my coat.

It's in the coat check. Look at your ticket. Should be article 50.

I already have my coat.

This is good;

http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2016/06/24/britain-democratic-failure/Mx888Cle7t6OUyuWyX8n2M/story.html?event=event25

Gove standing for Tory leader, says Boris isn't up to the job.

To be honest Michael, I'm not convinced you are either.

I'll repost this detailed analysis of the constitutional argument.

Here it is : ukconstitutionallaw.org/2016/06/­27/nick-barber-tom-hickman-and-jeff-king­-pulling-the-article-50-trigger-parliame­nts-indispensable-role/

I think it got lost in the noise of the music derail.

Thanks for that link

Wow - the arrogance is breath taking. Personal ambition is all that defines these people.